Stefanie Albright practices in the areas of water law and environmental law. She represents governmental entities, including water districts, water supply corporations, municipalities, and regional authorities with matters involving water quality, water and wastewater utilities, water rights, permitting and compliance, open government, and general counsel services.
Stefanie has more than 15 years of experience as a water law attorney. Prior to joining BHDA, she was a partner and member of the water law team at a private practice in Austin. In addition, she served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Elsa Alcala, Texas First Court of Appeals, while attending law school. Stefanie’s background also includes several years of work as a lead staff member in the Texas House of Representatives.
Representative Experience
- Provide general counsel services, including the creation, organization, and operation of water and wastewater utilities to regional authorities, water districts, and other water utilities in Texas.
- Advise clients regarding general governance and transparency issues relating to the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Public Information Act, governmental immunity, competitive bidding, conflicts of interest, and general ethics.
- Represent clients before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Public Utility Commission on water and wastewater matters, including all types of issues involving water and wastewater permitting and certificates of convenience and necessity.
- Represent clients in negotiations related to the purchase and sale of regional water and wastewater systems.
- Negotiate and draft developer agreements relating to the construction of water and wastewater utilities, developer reimbursements, capacity allocations, and facility conveyances.
- Prepare and execute real property documents, including easements and license agreements.
- Negotiate and prepare agreements for water and wastewater service and supply.
- Coordinate and manage stormwater permitting for Phase I and Phase II MS4 permit entities, including drafting and execution of permit applications and preparation of annual reports.
- Participate in Texas Commission on Environmental Quality stakeholder meetings relating to water quality and water rights, districts, and stormwater permitting.
- Assist clients with water quality matters involving permitting and compliance issues.
Texas Rising Stars list (Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters), 2018-2020
Senior Articles Editor, Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy, 2007-2008
University of Houston Law Center Moot Court, Client Counseling Competition Regional Finalist, 2007
Ewer-Oren J.D. Health Law Writing Award Recipient, 2007
Board Member, The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory and Department of Astronomy Board of Visitors, 2019 – Present
State Bar of Texas (Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section; Administrative Law Section)
Texas Water Association (formerly Texas Water Conservation Association)
Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
Texas Association of Water Board Directors
Austin Bar Association (Environmental, Natural Resource, and Water Law Section)
Panelist, Case Law Update, Texas Water Association 2025 Annual Convention (March 2025)
Co-speaker (with Alysha Girard), Dam Safety and Aging Infrastructure, 26th Annual Changing Face of Water Law Conference (February 2025)
Co-author (with Susan Maxwell and Denise Cheney), “Groundwater Transactions,” Chapter 18, Essentials of Texas Water Resources, 8th Edition, State Bar of Texas (2024)
Speaker, “The Nuts and Bolts of a SOAH-Contested Case Hearing (including Virtual Hearings),” Texas City Attorneys Association Fall Conference/Texas Municipal League Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas (October 2023)
Author and Speaker, “Ethics Considerations for City Officials,” Texas Municipal League Annual Conference (Texas City Attorneys Association Fall Conference), San Antonio, Texas (October 2019)
Speaker, “Complying with Water Quality Laws and Regulations” and “Ethics and Water Law,” HalfMoon Texas Water Laws and Regulations Seminar, Arlington, Texas (November 2018)
Speaker, “The Stormwater Remand Rule: Understanding the Impacts to the Maximum Extent Practical,” EPA Region 6 Stormwater Conference, San Antonio, Texas (September 2017)
Author, “Emerging Trends in the Regulation of Stormwater,” Texas Environmental Law Journal, Vol. 43 No. 1 (Fall 2012)
Co-author, “SB 573, CCN Decertification, and Water Utility Service Issues,” State Bar of Texas, 13th Annual Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas (February 2012)